The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-10-10
Mr.. PETERS IN THE DARK.
A Brief Interview with the Attor-
Dey General.
He Does Net Know who Gen. ChsI.
merA' Clients May Be-Qucs.
mons in the Public Mind.

When Gen. james Z. Chalmers was
first retained to assist In the prosecu.
ton OF President Haddsn, the fact ap.
psared In the APPEAL. 1t occasioned
widespread thought and comment,
and reasonably 80. Il revealed the
fact that a set of men, outside of the
proper law officers, were aiding and
nDetting the persecution, and II was
not difficult to defne the motive. Ia-
quiry after inquiry reached the ears
of reporters daily az to whom the par.
ties were, and finally a visit was paid
to Attorney General Peters in search
OF information. That official was en-
tirely ignorant on the subject,
and had not 30 much no been
consulted about the transaction. The
repotorisl query was, In fact. the fret
positive notice served upon him that
Gen. Chalmers was retained. The
latter gentleman was then called
upon, and stated In substance lust
what appeared yesterday in the card
over his " signature: that he was
regularly employed by prominent cit
liens and large tax psyere, and that a
hitch followed their a at proposition.
on account OF an insnfic ent fee. II
has since been learned that a SUBJ
scription paper was passed around
among those interested In the down
fall OF Mr.. Hadden to pay an attorney
to aid the State in prosecuting him.
Their purpose was to move heaven
and esnb, II necessary, TO BRAID him
as a deep.dyed criminal. So dssper.
ate wfs II cir grle vance and desire
to make q case sgainst hial, that they
could not rest with the investigation
and trial by the Attorney General,
but he must have assistan ce, and they
were willing to pay literally for It..
From thar day 10 this the APPEAL
hes labored to solve the mystery, and
Ia highly grstified at It's success thus
far. Nine out Of every ten intelligent
men in the city could name the ring
lesders, though 1t would he done in
the nature OF guess work. They
are known, but not as q whole.
The effort for come dsys past
has been and now is TO persuade the
signers Of that paper to rice up from
the brush and allow the public to in
spect them and their motives. Has
President Hsdden stood between their
grasping moDopolies and the peoples
rights2 Has he go engrsft.d himself
on popular favor and confidence that
their political aspirations IRE in jsop-
ardy? Has he dared refuse TO recog-
Mia their moss. covered claim 10 ward
bossism and the right 10 manipulate
ba lot bnxaa TO secure blue ribbon ms
jorties? Has he by his progressive
and public spirited metbods, busin ess
ike and economical government, so
established the taxing dietrict form
that there are no Logger opportunities
TO pile up bank accounts by scrib-
bling city scrip and iurni,hiDg sup
plies at their own 6gures2 Has he,
by the above "crimes," created deadly
enmiies which give the political
axeheade a chance TO fall into line,
move ~against and make a mighty
effort 10 crush himl Ihtte are the
questions In The public mind.
Thinking that pert APPS q ray OF
light might be thrown upon the
matter, an APPEAL reporter ssw Gen.
Peters last nigut. Tue only object Of
the visit was to ascertain, II possible,
who employed Gen. Chalmers TO aid
him on behalf Of the prosecution.
SIS Gen. Chalmers still retained In
the Taxing District cases7 p Gen.
Peters was aeked.
ITO be frank and honest, / know q
great deal less about that matter than
you. Gen. Chalmers and / have
never spoken on the subject, be never
volunteered the confidence and ] have
no desire for him TO do 20. Judging
from the wording Of bis card In this
mornings ArPEAL,'I would say that
he will be associated with the State In
the cases sgsibst Mr., Hadoen."
"Do you know anything, definitely
or remotely, a. TO WAC we're the sign
era Of that subscription paper through
which Gen. Chalmers IVES guaranteed
his Zee for legal services 10 lbe caee ?"
81 neither know nor have the isint-
est idea who Ia eoDhte ted with 10.
Aside iron q verv limited attendance
upon the grand Jury during iA inyts-
legations and the court stenee, / know
nothing about the carer, possibly not
a. much az / should"